Wow, I just read Nicholas Sparks' The Last Song from cover to cover. Yes, it was a good book. (No, I don't want to see the movie.) Yes, I bawled my eyes out. Yes, it's been years (yes years) since I've sat down to read a book cover to cover. And Yes, my own little voice, or whisper from God (as per the book) :), is becoming louder and louder...
A few months ago I decided to scale back, big-time, on my jewelry business. I also have, as evidenced here (by my lack of posts!), scaled back on my time on the computer. This is mostly in response to the need to address some physical and lifestyle changes that are now necessary to manage what can be a debilitating condition called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, or POTS. My physical strength can change from day to day, hour to hour. After a severe bout of the flu, I was diagnosed with POTS in March 2009, and Yes, it's taken me nearly a year to accept and give up my denial of it.
Has scaling so much back helped? Physically, yes, I think so. Or as much as I can report to my cardiologist so. Overall, definitely so. I have been less stressed, had more time to devote to my children and my husband, and finally returned to interests I used to think of as luxuries or things I somehow wasn't entitled to enjoy, like taking a whole night to read!
And, well, this book in particular, this one really hit home. I've got two babies. I have a super, fantabulous, how-do-I-deserve-this husband. And I've got my health, even with its new challenges. So what am I waiting for? This is my life. And it's time to embrace it.
A Bible passage that was a character's favorite in The Last Song, from Galatians 5:22, is at the essence of what I am feeling right now: "But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."
My lesson learned: when that little voice talks, don't fight it, listen to it. That voice is telling me my family and my health need me, more of me! So, I am ending my blog. Closing down another online shop. Turning down the next wholesale order. And it feels wonderful!
May we all continue to listen for these little whispers from God. Thanks for joining me in my journey and today, as I write my last song, er... blog post.
xo
Susie
